Dont know.
But that is what it says in the email i got from the webcast team.
Sometime the public talks in between webcasts dont get listed or advertised on the site.

“The path of the supreme yoga it is not the path of accomplished sages of the past. Whoever enters onto the path of the sages of the past will end up gripped by the sicknesses of the path - meditation, attachment, and exertion.”Thig le drug pa.

“Everything of the universe of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa arises as the enlightened energy of the one self-perfected Natural Presence. But these teachers still mistakenly teach that disciples should fabricate enlightenment by applying discipline, renunciation, interruption, purification and transformation”.

The historical reasons for secrecy in the Vajrayana, as very well explained in the referenced thread, have been overtaken by events, when it comes to the Vajrayana as taught from within the Dzogchen perspective of the Dzogchen Community.

To clarify this secrecy / rules of access to the teachings, I think it would be helpful to review the current state of the secrecy hierarchy as relates to members, non-members, and the Keepers of the Media Archives, in the Dzogchen Community. Please correct me if I have made any mistakes. This is how it is to the best of my knowledge.

Anyone walking into any DC retreat for the first time, whether member or non-member, is given full access to the specific teachings (including vajra dance and yantra yoga, including kumbaka and the pranayamas) of that retreat, as well as the CD of that retreat. This is true whether or not they are present, or totally distracted, at the DI and lungs of that retreat.

The only retreats where this differed, were the big Yangtig (dark retreat), retreat, and the big Togyal retreat. Yangtig and Togyal were also taught in other normal retreats, but sometimes to small groups. For these two big retreats, everyone had to write to ChNNR and request permission to attend. ChNNR has stated that everyone who asked, received permission.

Only those who physically attended these retreats, and whose names are on the official list of attendees, can obtain a copy of the CDs.

To buy restricted items from the SSI web store you must be a member.

Anyone who is interested, member or non-member can listen to (and record) the unrestricted webcasts.

Only members can listen to, and record, the unrestricted webcast replays, the restricted webcasts, and the restricted webcast replays.

Anyone who is a member can listen to any of the dozen or so retreat replays posted on the replay website.

To the best of my knowledge, non-members who attest that they listened to a non-restricted webcast, or attended any retreat, can buy the CD for that retreat.

Members who attest that they listened to any webcast, or attended any retreat, can buy the CDs for that retreat.

Anyone having a user name and password for the media archive, can access ANY, of the over 500 retreat recordings, of the collected works, including the several hundred retreats recorded on HD videos.

To become a member you have to pay your membership fee. In some places this is paid by the month. The membership fees, and fee structures, vary from place to place, and from time to time.

In many places, Yantra Yoga (the traditional tsa lung), including the pranayamas (now called “Breathing”) is taught by disciples of ChNNR who are both in, and are not in, the SMS hierarchy. This has now gravitated to yoga centers such as Esalen Institute and Kripalu where these are taught without receiving DI or any traditional transmission. This is also being done in Russia. Some Russians are advertising a 12 day, Yantra vacation for 1125 euros plus transportation.

Note – IMPORTANT – It is suggested that you choose your teachers very VERY carefully!
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Patrul Rinpoche's advice about following a spiritual friend:

Just as the trunk of an ordinary tree
Lying in the forest of the Malaya mountains
Absorbs the perfume of sandal from the moist leaves and branches
So you become to resemble whomever you follow.
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Some “high” teachings which traditionally required a transmission of DI, and wang / lung / tri are now being taught by disciples of ChNNR who are both within and without of the SMS hierarchy. These include, dream yoga, rushen, purification of the 6 lokas, the 7th lojang, the 21 semzin, Mandarava long life practice, Thugthig of Jnana Dakini, Chod and advanced pranayamas, among other practices.

Anyone who pays the course fee, gets access to these teachings. Sometimes there is a requirement that the attendee has received the DI from ChNNR.

These are some ramblings on secrecy and access to the Teachings in the hierarchy of the Dzogchen Community, as relates to access to Teachings by members, non-members, and the Keepers of the Media Archive.

Perhaps equal access will address these issues.

“We are all in the same boat.”

Very nice to see Rinpoche strong and in good health, singing and enjoying the singing and dancing in Mexico!

Homage to the Dzogchen Masters. May they live long, in good health and with success in all things.

Last edited by Grigoris on Thu May 09, 2013 8:38 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason:Changed text color as it was unreadable

Maybe they can publish something to Norbunet regarding the current status, and future plans, for the media archive.

My 2 cents is that it would be good to have all media (transcripts, practice materials, practice related books, CDs and DVDs) free, on line, for members. This would address the issue of equal access to the Teachings and overcome any thought of the Dzogchen Community becoming a club for the rich.

I think if the powers that be look at the small revenue from sales of CDs and DVDs, it is very clear that this small amount, would be more than offset by the hugely increased revenue from sales of memberships.

If one considers the hierarchy of "secrecy and access" as described in the post above, outside of SMS, it is only determined by payment of fees.

Of course the "live" lung is necessary (as per Rinpoche's current instruction) to get the benefit of the practices included in the media archives, "otherwise it doesn't function."

This would have to be worked out. Maybe Fabian (an expert in Tibetan language) can give the lungs. He also has excellent pronunciation.

Then members could choose what secondary practices that they wanted to study, and practice, from the entire collected works.

I believe that as a Dzogchen practitioner, this is permitted, and that being "active" in the pursuit of your spiritual path, is encouraged.

I am told that a complete list of secondary practices is currently being prepared by SSI. You can inquire about this at SSI.

Of course everything depends on what Rinpoche wants to do, and of course I support whatever he decides.

oldbob wrote:
At the end of his last retreat, K. Yeshe has declared that the "Tibetan Teachings of my father" will be done by the SMS structure and that he, K. Yeshe, will be bringing out his own Teachings in his new series of retreats.

Wow really?

That's what I got out of it at 5 in the AM, in Margarita, with a little sleep, fuzzy head.

What I remember fro mthe end, is that Khyentse Yeshe said his father is in good health and so he's not going to teach and if anyone invites him they should make sure it's not about him but about what he can share with them for the DC. Hence what he teaches NOW (because he actually had a very different approach, or style, when he started and then also changed along the way) is the approach like in Kiev or the Yeshe Lama. He also advised everyone on studying SMS and this is because studying SMS is crucial in bringing forth real understanding, and this last I speak from my own experience - and it does not mean I am very fond of SMS... I am fond of Guruyoga and I see SMS from that perspective, not the other way round.

Regarding the archives, I think you are totally mistaken.
As an example, a lot of people are working on looking through archives, Mirrors and elsewhere for every Rinpoche's word on vajra dance, because there's a lack of any published commentary and so on and everybody has to work on their own on courses. They're well back before 2000. Think a little, everything requires a lot of work to be done to just get anything done and there is really no limit to participation in that work. Everybody has a good intention, devotion and willingness - that's what I see around myself. This does not mean that there are no problems. There may be always some problems where there is collaboration.

Nice to learn more of what K Yeshe intends, but it sure would be nice to find a recording of the last day of this last retreat so that a transcript could be made in Italian and English.

Nice you are seeing SMS from the perspective of of Guruyoga. Perhaps it is good to see everything like this.

Nice to hear that people are researching the information on the Vajra Dance. Maybe this could be released in stages, on line, for free, as it is an evolving project, that would benefit many people.

I am quite sure I am totally mistaken on most things, but as to the archives, I am completely confused as to how or where I am totally mistaken. I was only making the following claims - which are true to the best of my knowledge.

1. The transcript archives exist. Somewhere in Merigar there is a file cabinet with completed transcripts for many of the retreats. It would be nice if these could be put on line for free. This can easily be done by scanning the transcripts and making OCR, corrected copies of the transcripts. This is not expensive, nor would take a lot of time. This can easily be done by crowd sourcing this work to the 2400 people attending the webcasts. Perhaps each Gar / Ling could buy a scanner and OCR software and set up a space for this project. The transcripts can be released electronically as they become available, free on line. The transcription of all the retreats which still are not transcribed, could be done in the same general way. Perhaps someone at SSI could coordinate this and communicate to the DC on Norbunet, as to current status and periodic progress.

2. The audio / video archives exist. Somewhere in the world there are 2 computers with all of the audio and video that exists for the 500 + retreats. It would be nice if these were put on line for free. I am sure that many people will contribute to this project, if asked. Since the data is already on hard drives, it is just a matter of duplicating these hard drives and sending them to a server location. With Apple / Google/ and Microsoft competing for cloud hosting, the monthly charges for this server would not be much. This can easily be researched and achieved. The hard work of getting the audio and video onto the hardrives has already been done. Perhaps the current webcast user names and passwords can be utilized. Perhaps someone at SSI could coordinate this and communicate to the DC on Norbunet, both as to current status and periodic progress.

3. The archives exist. A few "special" people have access to these archives. The appearance is that these "special" people are doing what they can to restrict equal access. I pray that I am "completely wrong" as to this restriction, but then where is the equal access after 30 years of the existence of Merigar?

Equal access means that EVERYONE (all members) could have equal access, free on line, with no differentiation between those members who have money and those who do not, and no difference between those who are "special" power people and those who are not.

The key point is that the archives exist and that rather than their publishing being a 30 year project of SSI, perhaps SSI could permit all members of the DC to collaborate and then publish the retreat archives, every so often, as a work in progress. This could include the immediate electronic publication of what is available now.

The schedule of retreat in Hotel Buena Vista is:
8th -12th May 2013
Tsegyalgar West retreat.
The teaching will be Zhinang Yeshes
Dronme (Tib. g.zhi-snang ye-shes sgron-me)
The Wisdom light of the Base.
Closed webcast.

The Lama Yangtik is made up of small inner trilogies. The Lamp of Wisdom (explaining) the Manifestations of the Base (gZhi snang ye shes sgron me) belongs to the first trilogy of the 2nd volume of the Lama Yangtik, known as the Trilogy of the Lamps (sGron me gsum) and it goes together with: (i) the Lamp Clarifying the meaning of Allegoric Examples (dPe don gsal byed sgron me) and (ii) the Lamp of the key-points of Practice (Nyams len gnad kyi sgron me).

The Lamp of Wisdom describes :
1. the primordial Base
2. the actual manifestations of the Base
3. the way they subside
4. the way they arise again after subsiding
5. the way they liberate after having arisen.

The schedule of retreat in Hotel Buena Vista is:
8th -12th May 2013
Tsegyalgar West retreat.
The teaching will be Zhinang Yeshes
Dronme (Tib. g.zhi-snang ye-shes sgron-me)
The Wisdom light of the Base.
Closed webcast.

The Lama Yangtik is made up of small inner trilogies. The Lamp of Wisdom (explaining) the Manifestations of the Base (gZhi snang ye shes sgron me) belongs to the first trilogy of the 2nd volume of the Lama Yangtik, known as the Trilogy of the Lamps (sGron me gsum) and it goes together with: (i) the Lamp Clarifying the meaning of Allegoric Examples (dPe don gsal byed sgron me) and (ii) the Lamp of the key-points of Practice (Nyams len gnad kyi sgron me).

The Lamp of Wisdom describes :
1. the primordial Base
2. the actual manifestations of the Base
3. the way they subside
4. the way they arise again after subsiding
5. the way they liberate after having arisen.

Don't you think it would be polite to attribute that to the person who wrote it?

Although many individuals in this age appear to be merely indulging their worldly desires, one does not have the capacity to judge them, so it is best to train in pure vision.
- Shabkar

The schedule of retreat in Hotel Buena Vista is:
8th -12th May 2013
Tsegyalgar West retreat.
The teaching will be Zhinang Yeshes
Dronme (Tib. g.zhi-snang ye-shes sgron-me)
The Wisdom light of the Base.
Closed webcast.

The Lama Yangtik is made up of small inner trilogies. The Lamp of Wisdom (explaining) the Manifestations of the Base (gZhi snang ye shes sgron me) belongs to the first trilogy of the 2nd volume of the Lama Yangtik, known as the Trilogy of the Lamps (sGron me gsum) and it goes together with: (i) the Lamp Clarifying the meaning of Allegoric Examples (dPe don gsal byed sgron me) and (ii) the Lamp of the key-points of Practice (Nyams len gnad kyi sgron me).

The Lamp of Wisdom describes :
1. the primordial Base
2. the actual manifestations of the Base
3. the way they subside
4. the way they arise again after subsiding
5. the way they liberate after having arisen.

Don't you think it would be polite to attribute that to the person who wrote it?

The fine information posted above was a collective effort provided by the fine minds of both sönam and Mutsuk Marro from vajracakra, much obliged! I do not own the rights to this information and would like to thank both cut and paste for the integral roles they played in making the precise transfer of this information possible. May it benefit countless beings!

Well so much for ever being in the CIA. Now everyone knows what I look like.

On the humorous side, in January I wrote to SSI asking for a list of the secondary practices.

Maybe it is more timely if we make our own. We are all getting older and the time of death is uncertain.

This is a list sourced from several practitioners. If you can add, correct or condense anything, and send it back as a PM, from time to time I will send out updates.

Maybe someone who is a scholar can clean the list up, (use Wylie please, as it is more generally known) and send it back. Of course, everyone should also feel free to publish things directly.

The point of publishing the list is that this is the practice heart of the Dzogchen Community. Guru Yoga is the primary practice and infuses all other practices / activities, 24/7. The DC is more than Yantra Yoga and Vajra Dance, yet 90 percent of the course offerings has been just these two subjects. (Maybe this is why so few go to non-Rinpoche retreats at the Gars.) Maybe more people would attend retreats if these other secondary practices were taught as well.

Each practice could also be presented on-line, with a full hyper-links (you click you go there) reference to the retreat it was taught from in the Media archives: audio only, audio and video, and transcripts.

A short summary of each practice could be prepared and put into a descriptive index of the practices of the Collected Works. Then it would be nice if a "Practice Collected Works" could be published - on line for members, that would be a collection of teaching modules with the texts, images, and audio (for mantras) and video (for mudras) references, available as click-on items for each practice. This is doable now - in our life time - through crowd sourcing within the community.

Then the multi-media "Collected Works for Practitioners" can be published on line for members. This is not proselytizing, it is just making what is currently available for the few privileged "Keepers of the Archives" available to everyone else in the Community, AND making studying, learning and doing the practices (all the practices) possible for many more people.

Certainly, a system of "transmission" and "permissions" needs to be worked out. All of this is up to Rinpoche - if he wants to do this.

Dharma is not pizza - to be sold in slices only to those who can afford to buy. Dharma is the potential for realization in the hearts of everyone.

asunthatneversets wrote:
The fine information posted above was a collective effort provided by the fine minds of both sönam and Mutsuk Marro from vajracakra, much obliged! I do not own the rights to this information and would like to thank both cut and paste for the integral roles they played in making the precise transfer of this information possible. May it benefit countless beings!

Well so much for ever being in the CIA. Now everyone knows what I look like.
.
.
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Secondary Practice List of the Dzogchen Community

asunthatneversets wrote:
The fine information posted above was a collective effort provided by the fine minds of both sönam and Mutsuk Marro from vajracakra, much obliged! I do not own the rights to this information and would like to thank both cut and paste for the integral roles they played in making the precise transfer of this information possible. May it benefit countless beings!

Well so much for ever being in the CIA. Now everyone knows what I look like.
.
.
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Secondary Practice List of the Dzogchen Community

My 2 cents is that all practices are secondary, except Guru Yoga. My 2 cents is that any practice / activity, done with Awareness is Dzogchen, and any practice / activity, done without Awareness is not. I think the Tibetans call this "ordinary mind," or, "as it is," or, "the thing itself," "or "one taste," or, "the one point that explains all," but I am not a scholar. I am certain the scholars on the Board can answer your question better than I can, as I have only my poor memory of what my Teachers have said, to go on.

Best, ob

Last edited by oldbob on Sat May 04, 2013 1:45 am, edited 1 time in total.